AKAAHS JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment) : The plaintiff (now respondent) is the principal partner and head of chambers in the law firm called Bassey O. Bassey and Associates carrying on business at No. 31, Old
Odukpani Road, Calabar. The defendant/appellant appointed the respondent as its external solicitors by a letter dated 15 January 2001 for the sum of N1,500,000.00 (one million, five hundred thousand naira). A retainership agreement for one year was executed by the parties. By virtue of the retainership agreement, the appellant briefed the respondent to handle litigations on its behalf in court and prepare agreements. According to therespondent, he was partially paid by the appellant in line with the retainership agreement which payment was duly receipted for by the respondent. Despite forwarding his bill of charges to the appellant on 27April 2002, the appellant failed to pay and subsequently, he served the appellant with a statutory notice of intention to sue. On 12 November…